Upland Vegetation Management Plan

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Allstate Tree Service, Inc. will conduct removal and annual control of the common buckthorn. Depending on their availability, either Minnesota Native Landscapes, Inc. or Prairie Restorations, Inc. will be completing the installation of the native vegetation. Greer Lundquist, Hydrogeologist, currently employed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and Todd Troskey, hydrogeologist, State of Wisconsin certified soil tester (#41546) will provide additional consulting for the project. After the initial remediation of the upland buffer area is complete, Svoboda Ecological Resources (SER) will monitor the upland buffer area and submit annual reports to the Local Government Unit (LGU) and the City of Orono describing the progression of the management area if desired by regulatory personnel. CONTROL OF EXISTING BUCKTHORN AND GARLIC MUSTARD AND PREVENTING FUTURE INVESTATIONS Buckthorn(Rhamnus cathartica)is spreading throughout this upland buffer area as well as throughout the entire project parcel and adjacent parcels within the area. Seed carried by birds introduces these plants throughout the region. Buckthorns generally do well in moderately shady forested areas. To eradicate the existing buckthorn, cut the plants and treat the stumps with herbicide. One application of glyphosate on a fresh cut stump in August or September has proven to be effective, though other treatments are known to work as well (Converse 2003). Glyphosate is a nonselective herbicide that will kill non- target plants if it comes into contact with them. Managers should exercise caution during application, and not spray so heavily that herbicide drips off the target species. Another option is basal bark application of Garlon 4� (University of Minnesota Extension Service 1999). To prevent dense re-infestations we advise careful monitoring of the site every 2-3 years. Upon the discovery of newly established plants it is recommended to pull the plants out of the ground, including the roots, immediately. There are specialized weed pullers to facilitate pulling larger plants. However, pulling is the preferred option when there are localized infestations of small plants; thorough monitoring should ensure this case. Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is also spreading throughout the upland buffer area as well as the entire project parcel and is likely found within neighboring parcels. According to the Wisconsin DNR Invasive Species Information, minor infestations can be eradicated by hand pulling at or before the onset of flowering, or by cutting the flower stalk as close to the soil surface as possible just as flowering begins (cutting a couple inches above ground level is not quite as effective). Cutting prior to this time may promote re-sprouting. Cutting flowering plants at the ground level has resulted in 99% mortality and eliminates seed production. A scythe;monofilament weed whip, or power brush cutter may be helpful if the infestation covers a large area. When pulling, the upper half of the root must be removed in order to stop buds at the root crown from sending up new flower stalks. Pulling is very labor intensive, and can result in soil disturbance, damaging desirable species, and bringing up seeds from the seed bank. These results can be partially prevented by thoroughly tamping soil after pulling. If, however, seed bank Svoboda Ecological Resources 2180 Abingdon Way Project No.:07-056-48 2 Richard&Britt Gage